The Practice of Court Interpreting

This text details the work of a court interpreter, with chapters that describe: becoming a court interpreter; case preparation; courtroom procedures; and expert witnessing.

Contents:

Part 1 How to become a court interpreter and a brief sketch of the work: who should become a court interpreter; formal training for court interpreting; training on the job; training at professional meetings; finding work; requirements for the federal courts; state certifications; free-lance v. full-time work; where court interpreters work and what they do; expressions used in this text.

Part 2 Case preparation - a context and documents: purpose of information; no-paper; the structure of a felony proceeding; the plea bargain; documents and information; jury instructions; physical and verbal evidence; a case sheet.

Part 3 Case preparation - B - terminology, reference books and dictionaries: terminology preparation; forensic reference books; kinds of dictionaries; how to buy a dictionary; what to do when a word is not in the dictionary.

Part 4 In the courtroom - ethics, roles, procedures: ethics; projection of interpreter image; need for interpretation; giving the client good value; neither too many nor too few interpreters; who is who in the courtroom; sound equipment; procedural matters; comprehension; judicial checklist; information for judges.

Part 5 The rich potential for error: errors that originate with the interpreter; errors that counsel help create; the perils of literal interpretation.

Part 6 Translation of legal documents: sight translation; written translation; fax and modem; the use of computers.

Part 7 Tape transcription and translation: procedures and problems; transcribing original language allows attorneys to see what was actually said; time constraints; the transcription; translation of transcription; quality control.

Part 8 The interpreter as expert witness: impartiality; critique; presenting your own tape work or translation; preparation with counsel; on the witness stand; when not to be an expert.